Shep is a married man whom Blanche once again met with a year before her arrival in New Orleans (while vacationing in Miami). Blanche hopes he will provide the financial support for her and Stella to escape from Stanley. 

As Blanche’s mental stability deteriorates, her fantasy that Shep is coming to sweep her away becomes more and more real to her, with it being financial comfort as we learn she’s struggled for money in the past. Shep never appears onstage and is only a repeated mention.